A STOLEN car caused extensive damage to an entrance to a woodland park during a police chase on Friday night. The car, believed to be a 4x4, was stolen from Langley Grove in St Albans shortly before midnight and police chased it to the Jersey Farm Woodlan

A STOLEN car caused extensive damage to an entrance to a woodland park during a police chase on Friday night.

The car, believed to be a 4x4, was stolen from Langley Grove in St Albans shortly before midnight and police chased it to the Jersey Farm Woodland Park where two men got out and ran off.

Although a police helicopter went up to try to find them in the woods, it was unsuccessful.

The incident left several trees at the entrance to the park opposite Wheatfields JMI School uprooted and others badly damaged.

Parish tree warden Tom Hewins said: "It was the last section of the wood to be planted and we were considering widening the pedestrian entrance there but in light of what has happened we may have to modify that."

He said that removing the car had damaged a cherry tree with a diameter of about 10 inches or more which would probably survive but the fleeing car had uprooted and cut in half a sweet chestnut.

He pointed out that as the car was stolen, the parish council had no redress from insurance companies.

Earlier this month a tree dedicated to the memory of Princess Diana at the other side of the woodland park in St Helier Road, St Albans, was damaged by vandals.